2 months ago
MUMBAI: When the Duleep Trophy semifinals began at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Sunday, 19-time champions West Zone were conspicuous by their absence.
West crashed out after a 52-run defeat to North Zone in a low-scoring quarterfinal, with North posting 251 and 222, while West managed 187 and 234.
Former Mumbai first-class cricketer Amit Dani, who coached West Zone this season, believes the tournament's knockout format needs a rethink.
"I suggested to the BCCI that it should seriously consider not having knockout matches until the final in the Duleep Trophy. It's the first tournament of the season and players are often a bit rusty. Even if North Zone had been knocked out after just one game, it wouldn't have been fair on their players either," Dani told TOI.
Dani argued that the current format limits opportunities for players and selectors alike.
"The selectors wanted to watch Tanush Kotian, but they got to see him in only one match. It was a difficult wicket where the ball was gripping and turning, making batting tough. Players need more games. With the final scheduled only on Sept 6, there is room for one more league match," he said.
Despite the early exit, Dani found plenty of positives in West's campaign. He reserved special praise for Musheer Khan, whose 96 in the fourth innings was the highest score of the match.
"On that wicket, it was a top-quality knock. It wasn't easy to bat there, but Musheer showed superb temperament and skill," Dani said.
He felt Anshul Kamboj's brisk 60 in North's first innings and Ruturaj Gaikwad's run-out while batting on 66 in the chase proved decisive.
"For us, Musheer, Tanush and Tushar Deshpande stood out. Tushar bowled with real fire and intensity. I hope all three are considered for India A or the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup," Dani added.
#west #musheer #first
West crashed out after a 52-run defeat to North Zone in a low-scoring quarterfinal, with North posting 251 and 222, while West managed 187 and 234.
Former Mumbai first-class cricketer Amit Dani, who coached West Zone this season, believes the tournament's knockout format needs a rethink.
"I suggested to the BCCI that it should seriously consider not having knockout matches until the final in the Duleep Trophy. It's the first tournament of the season and players are often a bit rusty. Even if North Zone had been knocked out after just one game, it wouldn't have been fair on their players either," Dani told TOI.
Dani argued that the current format limits opportunities for players and selectors alike.
"The selectors wanted to watch Tanush Kotian, but they got to see him in only one match. It was a difficult wicket where the ball was gripping and turning, making batting tough. Players need more games. With the final scheduled only on Sept 6, there is room for one more league match," he said.
Despite the early exit, Dani found plenty of positives in West's campaign. He reserved special praise for Musheer Khan, whose 96 in the fourth innings was the highest score of the match.
"On that wicket, it was a top-quality knock. It wasn't easy to bat there, but Musheer showed superb temperament and skill," Dani said.
He felt Anshul Kamboj's brisk 60 in North's first innings and Ruturaj Gaikwad's run-out while batting on 66 in the chase proved decisive.
"For us, Musheer, Tanush and Tushar Deshpande stood out. Tushar bowled with real fire and intensity. I hope all three are considered for India A or the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup," Dani added.
#west #musheer #first
2 months ago
BENGALURU: Some spinners rely on guile and variety, others on subtle change of pace. Abid Mushtaq prefers a simpler route to success— hit the right areas, make batters play and wait for them to commit mistakes.
The Jammu and Kashmir leftarm spinner was at his methodical best against West Zone on Day Two of the Duleep Trophy at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here on Monday. On a red-soil pitch he described as his "favourite", Abid claimed a five-wicket haul to bowl West out for 187 in 65.4 overs.
North Zone, who secured a 64-run first-innings lead, were 107/4 at stumps, stretching their advantage to 171 runs.
Abid admitted he got "goosebumps" when he saw the red soil, a surface he has only started training on regularly over the last 3-4 three years in J&K. He made the most of the familiarity, producing a spell built on accuracy rather than elaborate variations.
The 29-year-old, who was also invited to bowl in the Australian team's nets ahead of the 2023 BorderGavaskar Trophy in India, kept attacking the stumps and forcing batters to play.
Three of his five wickets — Shivalik Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Urvil Patel — came via LBWs. Gaikwad and Urvil fell within three ****** of each other, leaving West reeling at 70/5 in the 28th over.
"I bowled at the stumps as there was a lot of help on the wicket. I always try to land in good areas and not give away runs. I also use the crease. When it comes to bowling in red soil, I'm confident," Abid said.
His figures of 11-5-13-3 in the first session summed up his approach. He gave the batters little to work with and had already castled Prithvi Shaw on Sunday evening.
Abid, who has taken 63 wickets in his last three Ranji Trophy seasons, kept varying his angle, bowling from both sides of the wicket without compromising on his discipline.
Musheer Khan (31), who showed considerable patience against him, and Shams Mulani (52) briefly stemmed the collapse with a 63-run sixth-wicket partnership. But Abid returned to dismiss Tushar Deshpande (18), completing his five-for.
Anshul Kamboj (2/38) and Arshdeep Singh (3/53) also contributed with the ball as North Zone tightened their grip on the quarterfinal.
At the adjacent ground, Shahbaz Ahmed produced an allround performance to put East Zone firmly in control against North East Zone.
Resuming on 100, the left-hander went on to make 167 as East amassed 467 in 112.5 overs. His innings built on the foundation laid by Sudip Gharami's 146 on the opening day.
Shahbaz then took 3/20 as North East were bowled out for 111, with Abhijit Sarkar returning 5/20.
Forced to follow on, North East reached 7/0 from the only over possible before stumps.
Brief scores: North Zone 251 & 107/4 in 21 overs (Ayush Badoni 39*, Abdul Samad 30; Shams Mulani 2/34, Tanush Kotian 2/22) vs West Zone 187 in 65.4 overs (Shams Mulani 52, Musheer Khan 31; Abid Mushtaq 5/39, Arshdeep Singh 3/53, Anshul Kamboj 2/38).
East Zone 467 in 112.5 overs (Shahbaz A
The Jammu and Kashmir leftarm spinner was at his methodical best against West Zone on Day Two of the Duleep Trophy at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here on Monday. On a red-soil pitch he described as his "favourite", Abid claimed a five-wicket haul to bowl West out for 187 in 65.4 overs.
North Zone, who secured a 64-run first-innings lead, were 107/4 at stumps, stretching their advantage to 171 runs.
Abid admitted he got "goosebumps" when he saw the red soil, a surface he has only started training on regularly over the last 3-4 three years in J&K. He made the most of the familiarity, producing a spell built on accuracy rather than elaborate variations.
The 29-year-old, who was also invited to bowl in the Australian team's nets ahead of the 2023 BorderGavaskar Trophy in India, kept attacking the stumps and forcing batters to play.
Three of his five wickets — Shivalik Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Urvil Patel — came via LBWs. Gaikwad and Urvil fell within three ****** of each other, leaving West reeling at 70/5 in the 28th over.
"I bowled at the stumps as there was a lot of help on the wicket. I always try to land in good areas and not give away runs. I also use the crease. When it comes to bowling in red soil, I'm confident," Abid said.
His figures of 11-5-13-3 in the first session summed up his approach. He gave the batters little to work with and had already castled Prithvi Shaw on Sunday evening.
Abid, who has taken 63 wickets in his last three Ranji Trophy seasons, kept varying his angle, bowling from both sides of the wicket without compromising on his discipline.
Musheer Khan (31), who showed considerable patience against him, and Shams Mulani (52) briefly stemmed the collapse with a 63-run sixth-wicket partnership. But Abid returned to dismiss Tushar Deshpande (18), completing his five-for.
Anshul Kamboj (2/38) and Arshdeep Singh (3/53) also contributed with the ball as North Zone tightened their grip on the quarterfinal.
At the adjacent ground, Shahbaz Ahmed produced an allround performance to put East Zone firmly in control against North East Zone.
Resuming on 100, the left-hander went on to make 167 as East amassed 467 in 112.5 overs. His innings built on the foundation laid by Sudip Gharami's 146 on the opening day.
Shahbaz then took 3/20 as North East were bowled out for 111, with Abhijit Sarkar returning 5/20.
Forced to follow on, North East reached 7/0 from the only over possible before stumps.
Brief scores: North Zone 251 & 107/4 in 21 overs (Ayush Badoni 39*, Abdul Samad 30; Shams Mulani 2/34, Tanush Kotian 2/22) vs West Zone 187 in 65.4 overs (Shams Mulani 52, Musheer Khan 31; Abid Mushtaq 5/39, Arshdeep Singh 3/53, Anshul Kamboj 2/38).
East Zone 467 in 112.5 overs (Shahbaz A
